Irish Melodies (Illustrated with Engravings from Drawings by Eminent Artists) ( 1856 Edition ) ( Leather Binding )

London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longman's. ** RARE ILLUSTRATED 1856 EDITION ** LEATHER BOUND ** NOT A LIBRARY BOOK ** CLEAN AND STAIN-FREE ** Published in London by Longman, Brown, Green, and Longman's in 1856. NOTE: Photos accessed with this listing are of the actual book you will be sent; please examine them closely as they provide the best indication of condition. With 218 pages, engraved frontispiece from a drawing by MacLise, a special second engraved title page, and 11 full-page illustration plates, all under tissue guard. Signed binding by Edmonds & Remnants, a notable 19th century London bindery. Bound in pebbled brown morocco with elaborate hand-tooled gilt designs framing the front and rear boards, spine divided into 6 compartments by 5 raised bands, each compartment with intricate designs tooled in gilt, board edges gilt and the interior paste-down pages are framed with tooled gilt dentelles. All exterior page edges are clean, bright gilt There is a tear to the leather along the exterior rear hinge for not quite halfway down the hinge, and the rear interior hinge is torn in the gutter. None of this appears to affect the structural integrity of the book. The boards remain attached, no pages are loose or missing. The book has no other notable flaws, just very brief, quite occasional, minor signs of gentle handling or age (pages softly age-toned, some infrequent foxing, mainly to the tissue guards). The book is exceptionally clean and stain-free, perfectly square and straight. The corners have not been bumped. The text-block is unbroken and remains firmly attached to the backstrip. Aside from the previously mentioned tear, the leather binding shows almost no wear, just a touch of occasional light rubbing along the board edges. Internally, all pages are clean and stain-free, all text and illustrations remain crisp, sharp, and legible. There is a previous owner's inscription on the blank front page, but there is no other writing, underlining, highlighting, or other such markings in the book. Buy with confidence, professional booksellers for 35 years, selling online since 1995. B23. . Very Good. Hardcover. 1856.